%20(3).png){kind=small}
![TFD [LOGO] (10).png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/bea252_c1775b2fb69c4411abe5f0d27e15b130~mv2.png/v1/crop/x_150,y_143,w_1221,h_1193/fill/w_179,h_176,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/TFD%20%5BLOGO%5D%20(10).png)
NETANYAHU’S UAE VISIT SCRUBBED FOR 4TH TIME
- By The Financial District
- Mar 12, 2021
- 2 min read
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has canceled his visit to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, March 11, 2021, claiming there were difficulties with approving the flight path with Jordan, Judy Malt reported for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
This marks the fourth time Netanyahu's historic visit to the UAE, which would have been the first since the Gulf state established diplomatic ties with Israel, was canceled.
The Prime Minister's Office said the issue likely stemmed from the cancelation of a visit to the Temple Mount by Jordan's Crown Prince on Wednesday over disagreements regarding security arrangements.
Jordan eventually did allow the flight to enter its airspace, but as the approval came too late, it was agreed by Netanyahu and Emirati Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed to reschedule the visit, the statement said.
In a related development, Sara Lemel reported for Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) that Sara Netanyahu, the wife of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was taken to hospital with appendicitis, a spokesperson for the family said on Thursday, the day the premier was due to travel to the UAE.
The 62-year-old has to stay at Jerusalem's Hadassah hospital for several days to receive treatment, according to the spokesperson. The premier was reportedly by her side.
Israel and the UAE announced the establishment of diplomatic ties in August following mediation by the United States and sealed their relations a month later in a move many called historic. Israel also established formal ties with Bahrain at the same time. In exchange, Israel promised to halt the annexation of areas in the occupied West Bank.
Israel and the UAE expect their alliance to deliver economic benefits, but primarily, their ties are based on a shared enmity towards Iran. Observers have classified the move as a foreign policy win for Netanyahu, 71, who is currently running to be re-elected as premier in two weeks.
He is Israel's longest-serving prime minister, having been in the role for 14 years. Arab states have long refused to establish ties with Israel, saying any normalization must be contingent on a resolution of the Palestinian conflict.
